Leaders Brookies had to rely on a Leigh Ireland penalty to overcome reigning champions Bedworth Ex-Service and retain their three-point lead over Lane.

Lane, who visit struggling Shilton on Thursday, have three games in hand on John Flavell?s Brookies and the teams have yet to meet in the league.

They were due to play each other on Saturday but Lane asked for the game to be put off as they face hold-ers Nuneaton Griff in the final of the Evening Telegraph Challenge Cup at Highfield Road on Monday - and Brookies were only too happy to agree to the postponement.

Lane will now host Brookies on Thursday, May 2, with the return scheduled to be the final game of the season.

AEI are a point ahead of Stockton, but have played three games more, and are level on points with Shilton who went down 1-0 to Christ the King, Caolan Cunningham netting the only goal.

Both AEI, who visit Marconi (Coventry) and Stockton, who host Dunlop, are in action tonight.

Dunlop will be hoping to carry on where they left off against Bulkington who they hammered 6-0 courtesy of strikes by Dean Godshill (2), Peter Ison, Carl Welland, Nick Francis and Frankie Bennett leaving manager Harry Robinson to purr: ?It was exhibition stuff.?